Grain Surfboards is an eco-centric surf company that makes shred sticks from renewable materials, specifically sustainably harvested cedar from local mills in Maine. Grain's Waka board is a retro-style Fish that's super-buoyant for its length (either 5'4" or 5'10"). The Waka kit comes with all the components you need to assemble the setup, including machine-cut keel and frames, top......read more
Located on Bainbridge Island, a quick ferry ride from Seattle, the studio of Grain Design churns out an array of cool products that are as thoughtfully designed as they are environmentally responsible. The Bound Hand Mirror, constructed from salvaged mirrored glass, is a good example. Grain designers James Minola and Chelsea Green -- who met in industrial design studies at......read more
Ty is a simple but essential innovation on the "disposable" plastic shower curtain. Created by Grain, a two-person design studio on Washington's Bainbridge Island, Ty is made of 100% High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), a breathable and easily recycled plastic that's also PVC-free. So unlike a traditional vinyl curtain, Ty won't offgas in your home. Because it can breathe, it also lasts longer than......read more
Nothing against rice and beans, but there's a whole world of grainy goodness beyond, a culinary realm that's criminally ignored in most kitchens (including our's). Barley, bulgur, quinoa, millet — whole grains are readily available, easy to cook, and make for scrumptious summer salads. After 30 years making salads using rice, beans, and lentils, LA Times writer Russ Parsons dove......read more
In a converted gym in San Francisco's Sunset district, a collective of four artist-designers have joined together through a shared love of craft, surfing, and sustainability. Under the humble name of Woodshop, the group's workspace and showroom is filled with functional art made from reclaimed wood and landfill-bound objects. The studio is made up of four guys whose individual skills......read more
The Packable Wireless System (PWS) from Grain Audio is a wireless speaker that you won’t want to put away when it’s not in use. Made with solid FSC certified walnut with neutral graphite speaker grills and buttons, the PWS has a modern, mature look that looks great anywhere. The Wood is not only cosmetic—it also helps deliver warmer and more natural sound than plastic speakers....read more
Danish experimental folk outfit Efterklang returns with a new video for the opening track off of Piramida, their fourth studio album due in September on 4AD. Directed by Oodls (creative duo Jakob Steen and Christoffer Frandsen), the clip for "Hollow Mountain" is appropriately expansive, exploring sweeping natural landscapes via a series of photographs that hang from the beams of a......read more
In this new video for Hudson, an upstart indie-folk artist from Melbourne, animator and fellow Aussie Jonathan Chong (aka Dropbear) created a kaleidoscopic stop motion clip using an artistic mainstay from childhood -- colored pencils. It's an amazing vid. Jonathan Chong is a talented (and very patient!) man. Check out some flicks documenting the shoot here. ...read more
The vast majority of plant protein consumed by humans comes courtesy of only three crops: rice, wheat, and corn. In Mexico, the main dietary staple is corn, a crop that is particularly vulnerable to climate change. Enter amaranth, an ancient Mexican grain that offers a solution to the difficulties of growing corn in an unstable climate. In a new episode of The World's "What's For Lunch" series,......read more
Here are a few select images from the second of Neil Krug's "On The Road" series, shot with film provided by the Polaroid revivalists at The Impossible Project. The Scion-sponsored project found Krug roaming the Southwestern U.S. with a highly attractive travel companion, snapping grainy shots along the way. Check out the whole series here. The Impossible Project as featured in issue 18 of......read more